Number of cases of cancer will increase by 40 percent in the coming years, according to press release from the KWF. Article posted 6 september 2011
6 september 2011: we have to little below press release to add.
Number of cancer patients rises by 40% to 123,000 per year
Netherlands not prepared for strong growth in number of cancer patients
Amsterdam, 6 september 2011 – particularly by the ageing increases the number of new cases of cancer (incidence) of 87,000 in 2007 to 123,000 per year in 2020. The number of people who has cancer or is successfully treated rises from 420,000 (in 2007) to 660,000 (in 2020). Positive is that the average survival rates continue to rise by past diagnoses and better treatments. The risk to die from cancer takes light af. This is evident from the report published today in ' cancer ' of the Netherlands Cancer 2020 Commission of Dutch cancer society today that Signaling is offered to Pauline Smeets, President of the Permanent Committee for VWS of the second room. By the increase in the number of (ex-) cancer patients will have a magnification of the capacity of care professionals for diagnosis, treatment and care (na) are necessary. KWF cancer believes that the large increase in incidence necessitates additional efforts at prevention.
The report came into being under the chairmanship of Prof. Dr. L.A.L.M. Kiemeney, Professor of cancer epidemiology at the UMC St Radboud Nijmegen. The report, which in collaboration with the Association of comprehensive cancer centres (VIKC) has been prepared, gives a picture of the pressure that the disease cancer will go on the total care of cancer patients by the sharply increasing care demand.
Rising incidence by ageing
Cancer is a disease that occurs mainly at older ages; more than two-thirds of all patients is older than 65 years at the time the diagnosis is made. The chance of developing cancer takes light, but by the increasing number of people older than 65 will be the absolute number of patients with cancer in this age group increased significantly. The ageing goes after 2020 through and culminates in 2040, until that time, the cancer incidence will be expected to continue to rise.
The rise in incidence is an average of all types of cancer, there are big differences in cancer incidence per species. The number of men that stomach cancer and lung cancer decreases, while the incidence of esophagus, prostate, and colorectal cancer and melanoma of the skin will increase. In women, the number of cases of ovarian cancer, while the incidence of breast, lung, esophageal cancer and melanoma of the skin increases.
In addition to the report provides incidence rates also mortality and survival rates. From this it can be concluded that the cancer in recent years has achieved a great deal. This also emerges from the research published today, Henrike Karim-Kos et al. which demonstrated that there is to be seen between 1989 and 2009 marked improvement at 16 common cancer types *.
KWF cancer on the basis of the results of the report makes the following recommendations:
- 1. a more efficient arrangement of the current care is necessary
The increase in the number of (ex-) cancer patients will lead to an increase in demand for care and aftercare. KWF warns that health care will have to prepare for these changes. In the light of the deficits in the care that already exist otherwise threatens the quality of care for cancer patients in the coming years deficit shoot. The capacity of healthcare professionals and facilities for diagnosis and treatment should up. Rationalising the current care is essential. KWF cancer asks the Government to take action and care to specialist cancer care where needed to concentrate, to improve the (na) care and the capacity problem.
- 2. the psychosocial care must be improved
While the number of cases of cancer increases, the chances of surviving and live longer with the disease. Be held earlier, on the other hand, both by diagnoses because the treatment at a number of types of cancer has improved. The number of people that survives and longer lives with cancer, rises. These people do often also after termination of the treatment of the tumor invoking the care. In addition to medical aftercare is estimated to have 30% of cancer patients also need specialized psychosocial care. Research shows that the psychosocial care is currently below par. KWF cancer believes that this must be improved. So everyone should be able to access a quality range of psychosocial care, reimbursed by the health insurer and performed by well-trained, knowledgeable caregivers, easily accessible and close to home. KWF cancer stimulates scientific research to develop more knowledge on psychosocial care, bet on the research results obtained by translation from previously, works with major (field) parties to the further introduction of the psychosocial screening and to the complete integration of psychosocial support within the regular care.
- 3. more attention should come for prevention of cancer
The influence of risk factors such as smoking, obesity, physical inactivity, alcohol consumption, excessive sunbathing and exposure to carcinogenic substances is of the utmost importance in order to reduce the number of new cases of cancer. One third of all new cancer cases are caused by smoking. The report shows that the incidence of cancers in particular, with the largest risk factor smoking (lung cancer (in women), esophageal cancer, pancreas cancer, bladder cancer, kidney cancer and colorectal cancer) huge rise in the coming years. KWF cancer believes that greater attention to the increase in the longer term (effective) prevention can be partially suppressed. The coming policy period goes Dutch cancer society committed to a smoke-free society itself prominently.
